3. Many Oregonians Need to File Health Insurance Tax Forms

Salem — Oregonians who received financial assistance in 2015 for a health plan they bought through HealthCare.gov must file a form, called a 1095-A, with their taxes this year. Most Oregonians received one or more IRS Form 1095s. These tax forms verify that consumers had the health care coverage required by the Affordable Care Act during 2015. There are three types of 1095 form: 1095-A, 1095-B, and 1095-C. Those who received a 1095-A enrolled in health insurance through HealthCare.gov. They will need to file the form with their taxes. “It is critical to file this tax form if you received tax credits to help you pay for your insurance during 2015,” said Patrick Allen, director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. “Otherwise, you could have to pay back some of those tax credits to the federal government.” People who received a 1095-A will need to reconcile the amount of tax credits they qualified for with the amount they received. If they don’t file the form, they could have to pay back some of those funds and be found ineligible for financial assistance next year. Forms 1095-B and 1095-C are for other types of health care coverage, such as through an employer or Medicaid. Consumers do not need to file these forms with their taxes, but should keep them for their records to prove that they are not subject to the penalty for going without insurance. Those who did not have coverage for three or more months in 2015 could have to pay a penalty when they file their federal income tax return. The penalty for going without coverage in 2015 is the higher of 2 percent of yearly household income or $325 for every adult in your family plus $162.50 for every child younger than 18 years old. The penalty could potentially be as much as $2,085 for a family of four, with two parents and two children younger than 18, earning $50,000 a year. Some Oregonians may qualify for a health coverage exemption to avoid paying the penalty. Exemptions are based on a number of things, such as certain hardships, life events, health coverage or financial status, and membership in some groups.

4. Free Discussion About the Meaning of Work in America, April 13

The April 13 event is part of Oregon Humanities’ statewide Conversation Project.

Hood River, Ore.—March 14, 2016 In America today, ask someone, “How are you?” and “busy” is a common response. Despite all of the digital devices designed to save time, many people still feel there is never enough. In an age when 24/7 connectivity, productivity, and efficiency often take priority, the boundary blurs between work and non-work, prompting the question, What is rest in our fast-paced, ever-connected world?

This is the focus of “Too Busy to Rest: Boundaries and Balance in a Nonstop World,” a free conversation with Lisa Naas Cook on Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at 6:30 pm at CGCC Hood River campus, 1730 College Way, Hood River, OR. This program is hosted by Columbia Gorge Community College and sponsored by Oregon Humanities.

Lisa Naas Cook has an MA in applied theology from Marylhurst University and a BS in natural resources from the Ohio State University. Her graduate work focused on the universal wisdom that the Jewish Sabbath offers for personal and planetary well-being in the modern world. Lisa writes and leads programs about sacred rest, intentional technology use, and the Universe Story in Hood River, Oregon.’

Through the Conversation Project, Oregon Humanities offers free programs that engage community members in thoughtful, challenging conversations about ideas critical to our daily lives and our state’s future. For more information about this free community discussion, please contact Suzanne Burd at (541) 506-6123 or sburd@cgcc.edu.

Oregon Humanities (921 SW Washington, Suite 150; Portland, OR 97205) connects Oregonians to ideas to change lives and transform communities. More information about Oregon Humanities’ programs and publications, which include the Conversation Project, Think & Drink, Humanity in Perspective, Idea Lab, Public Program Grants, and Oregon Humanities magazine, can be found at oregonhumanities.org. Oregon Humanities is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and a partner of the Oregon Cultural Trust.